As a child, I looked forward to the first day of school. Part of it was being able to use my new crayons, notebooks and pencils. There were also new clothes, a new teacher and the chance to make new friends. And surely my new shoes would help me run faster than before. I’d go sprinting around the yard to try them out. Everything was fresh and full of hope, as beginnings often are.

As I got older, there was the excitement of my first “real” job, complete with uniform, security badge and keys for employee only areas. There were new people to meet and cities to be explored, including the one I had just relocated to for work.

Now that I’m much older, I’m delighted by each new calendar page and the possibilities of what will fill the empty squares. There are standard things that fill certain days, but still room for a variety of activities like going to yoga, having lunch with a friend, or taking a long, meandering walk.

A beginning is ultimately an invitation to open towards the gifts and growth that are stored up for us.

-John O’Donohue

This delight is magnified 12-fold by the start of a new year. After reflecting on calendar and journal pages for 2025, it builds anticipation for 2026. I think about what I’ve learned and how I’ve grown, and the circumstances of each. I think about times of deep connection with dear friends, and look forward to being intentional about cultivating more of such experiences.

Many things have been planned and mapped out for next year, but there are always surprises and new opportunities that come along. Once again I am full of hope for this new beginning, and open to what it might bring.